According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.” If you got a hearing test recently that revealed you could benefit from hearing aids, you may be wondering what to expect. We review everything you need to know below.
You May Need Two Hearing Aids
Unless you only have hearing loss in one ear, which is relatively rare, you will likely need to wear two hearing aids. If you’re prescribed two, it’s important to make the investment and actually wear them, as they are calibrated to be worn together, and wearing two will help you localize sounds better.
You’ll Need Time to Adjust
The longer you waited to seek treatment for your hearing loss, the longer the adjustment period will be for you to get used to hearing all the sounds around you again. This is because you’re not used to hearing certain sounds like the refrigerator humming and birds chirping, and your brain will have to re-learn how to tune them out.
In addition, many new hearing aid wearers report that it takes them time to get used to hearing the sound of their own voice. They’re used to hearing their voice only through bone conduction, which makes it sound deeper and richer than it is, rather than air conduction, which is how you hear it through hearing aids.
You’ll Work Up to All Day Use
The eventual goal is for you to wear your hearing aid during all waking hours, other than during water-related activities, but because of the new influx of sounds, doing so may be overwhelming. Your audiologist will likely start with having you wear them for an hour or two a day and slowly working your way up to all-day use.
You’ll Need to Return for Multiple Follow-Ups
Unlike getting a set of eyeglasses, where you get fit and don’t need to return for a year or two, with hearing aids, expect to return multiple times over the first few weeks and months for follow-ups. Because hearing tests take place in soundproof booths, and this is what your programming is based on, you will find you need adjustments made after encountering real-world listening situations like at the Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Rancho Santa Fe Audiology today.
